Closure fastener



Jan. 18, 1949. M M'Alus CLOSURE FASTENER Filed May 2, 1946 v INVEN TOR. MICHAEL MARUS ATTORNEY of staple l2 so that the intermediate portions of both staples l2 and 20 maybe included in the loops thereof. 1 I

The staples l2 and 20 are preferably formed of relatively heavy, stiff wire which will not spring or bend substantially under normal loads to which the fastener is subjected. The latch 35) may be made of a lighter wire which may also be somewhat softer to facilitate the wrapping of the ends of the latch member about the intermediate portions of staple I2, this type of Wire being sufficiently strong and stiff for the latch member, since it support the loads by means of two relaof the container closure'and also 'having'its legs tively small loops which are not likely to bend or pull out.

In order to lock the closure fastener the tongue 3| of the latch member in the upright position illustrated in Fig. 1 is inserted through the upper staple 20 and is then turned downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. As the tongue is turned downwardly it will turn over the intermediate portion of the upper staple and bring the intermediate portion of the upper staple into the loops of the wrapped portions 32 and 33 of the latch, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. When the latch is turned downwardly to its locked position, its ends are turned inwardly toward the lid or closure H and do not project outwardly from the container. There are thus no points or projections extending outwardly from the fastener when in its locked position and the container to which it is applied may be'handled safely without any danger of damage to the clothing or person of anyone handling the containers. The container lid or cover is also securely locked down and will not be accidentally released under normal usage or even when the container is subjected to accidental violence unless the violence is of such a degree as to break other parts of the 1 container.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departingv from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure fastener comprising two wire staple members having substantially straight intermediate portions, and a latch member pivoted on the intermediate portion of one of said staple members and comprising an intermediate portion of hairpin shape, and end portions wrapped about the staple member loosely enough to include the intermediate portions of both staple members therein, whereby said hairpin shaped intermediate portion of the latch member may be inserted through the other of said staple members and turned downwardly to include both staple members in the loops of the wrapped endportions of said latch.

bent at right angles at a location adjacent to said intermediate portion to bring said intermediate portion into or near the plane of the inner surface of said closure.

3. A closure fastener comprising a pair of U- shaped staples having substantially straight intermediate portions and parallel leg portions extending at right angles to the intermediate portions and a latch member pivotally secured on the intermediate portion of one of said'staples for operative engagement :with the other of said staples; said:other. staple having the end pore tions of its legs bent atright angles to pass.

through a wall of a container and bentover-zor clenched at the inner surface of saidwall, and

said latch member having end portionswrapped about the intermediate portion of said one staple to provide loops to enclose the inter-. mediate portions of both staples when the fase tener is in locked condition.

4. A closure fastener comprising erally U-shaped staple members having substantially straight intermediate portions and parallel legs extending at right .angles from said interv mediate portions, one of said staple members being attachable to a container closure and the other to a container wall, and one of :said mombers having a longer intermediate portion than: the other; a latch member having an elongated U-shaped tongue portion and end portions wrapped about the intermediate portion of said one staple to provide a complete'loop at ea'ch side of said tongue portion, said tongue portion being inserted throughsaid other staple and rotatable about the intermediate portions of both staples to bring said intermediate portions within said loops, the ends of said latch being anew ed toward the closure member of a container when the fastener is mounted on 'a container and in looked condition. f

' MICHAEL MARUS.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTST Number Name" Date 588,717 Law 'Aug. 24, 1897 a pair of .gen- 

